Reciprocating rotary engine.



PATBNTND 11311.17', 1903.

TAN. REEVES. l -NEGIPROGATING ROTARY ENGINE.

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WITNESSES wf nomas runas co PATEN'TED PEB. 17, 1903.

nw. REEVES. RECIPROCATING ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1902.

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. MAH-onlin PATENTED EEB. 17,1903.

P. W. REEVES. REGIPROCATING RG'IARY ENGINE.

APPLIOATIDN FILEDJUNE 28,1902.

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BY QNJI ATTORNEY Rims. MDW

PATENTED'EEB. 17, 190s.

No, ?2o,845.

E. w. REEVES. EEGIPEOGATINE ROTARY ENGINE.

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BY 5ml, A'rToRuY wlTnEssEs y PATENT'ED IEE-E. '17, 190s. E. w. REEVES. 'EEcIPRocATI-NG ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIGIATDN FILED JUNE 28, 1902.

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. En' M Ar'roRusY WITNESSES efiENr FFICE@ FREDERICK W. REEVES, OF ALLEGIIENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

RECIPROCATING ROTARY ENGINE.

SPEGIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 720,845, dated February 17, 1903.

Application iiled Tune 28, 1902.

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Be itkncwn that I, FREDERICK W. REEVES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Reciprocating Rotary Engines, of Whichimprovement the following is a specication.

The object of my invention is to provide a steam-engine of reciprocating rotary character adapted for service in driving dynamos and other machinery where constant and high speed are essential.

The engine is so constructed and arranged as to be durable and compact and is provided with a positive quick-acting boiler-pressure eXpansion-balance-valve mechanism capable of giving as early a compression or exhaust as may be desired, which, taken with other new and'novel features, makes the same admirably adapted for the purpose for which it is intended.

In the accompanying drawiugsl have illustrated an operative engine embodying the essential features, with detail parts thereof, in which drawings- Figure I is a side elevation of the complete engine, showing the cylinder assuming an angle approximating forty-five degrees. Fig. II is an end viewof thesaine. Fig. III is a view of a portion of the side in reverse to that shown at Fig. I. Eig. IV is a longitudinal sectional view of said engine, showing the cylinder assuming an approximate vertical position. Fig. V is an enlarged vertical elevation of the cylinder and its attending Wheel connection or parallelogram. Fig. VI is a horizontal side vienT of a portion of the valve, also enlarged. Fig. VII is a front view of the same. Fig. VIII is a transverse sectional View through said -valve on the line C D of Fig. VI. Fig. IX is a vertical rear side view of the parallclogram. FigX is a transverse sectional view through the same on the line A B of Eig. IX. Eig. XI is a vertical side elevation of one of the automatic cylindercocks.

In order that others may fully comprehend the nature of my invention, I deem it advisable to briey and plainly describe the de- Serial No. 113,673. (No manici.)

tails of construction and then in like manner describe the operation and advantages.

Again referring to said drawings for a detailed description of said engine, the numeral I designates a suitable bed-plate, upon the rear portion of which is supported a shaft 2, carrying a fly-Wheel 3 and band-Wheel 4, said shaft being held in rotatable position by caps 5 and 6. A pair of segmental supports 7 are attached to the inner periphery of said flywheel by means of bolts S, extending through elongated slot-s into said Wheel-rim. These supports are provided at their inner extremities with lugs 9, through which extends a connecting-bolt IO, carrying nuts 9" to permit said supports being adjusted to or from one another. In and near the outer extremities of these supports areformed openingsintowhich are fitted the supporting-blocks proper, l1, which blocks are held firmly in position by engagement with set-screws 12 in the wheelrim. Pivotally suspended from pins 13, carried by said blocks, is a device, which I term a parallelogram, comprehending parallel connecting-bars I4 of equal length, pivotally connected at their upper extremities to said pins 13 and at their lower extremities to similar pins carried by bearings I6 of the frame 17. The frame 17 is constructed somewhat narrower at one end than at the other, and upon the rear side thereof is adj'ustably attached by screw-bolts 18 the plates 19, having upon their inner edges the guides 20. These guides are capable of being adjusted Vlaterally in order to bring about a parallel condition wiih one another and are held in such positions by the Wedges 2l, said Wedges being held in position by screw-bolts 22. Nithin said frame is arranged a -cylinder' 23, having thereupon at diametrically opposite points the slides 24 to engage Within the guides of said frame, said cylinder beingprovided with ports 25 for receiving and exhaust-ing steam at either end. The rod 26 of the piston 27 is rigidly attached at its outer end to said frame 17, and in order to balance the Wheel a Weight 28 is attached thereto at a point opposite the suspension of the parallelogram. Upon the forward part of said bed-plate in line With the shaft of said fly-Wheel, but at an elevation or distance from said shaft equal to one-half of the piston-stroke, is mounted in bearings a hollow shaft 29, terminating at its forward end in a stuffing-box 30 and at its rear end in a valve-chamber 31, said shaft being secured in rotatable position by caps 32. The valve-chamber end of this shaft is bolted direct to the cylinder, inclosing the ports thereof, and upon the interior portion of said shaft, midway between the bearings, is tightly fitted a tube 29', forming one wall of and cutting off the air-chambers 33 from the interior of said shaft, which chambers are adapted to prevent undue heating of the shaft at the bearings. Vithin the stufng-box end of said shaft is loosely fitted a tube 34, to the outer end of which is threadably attached the steam-inlet chamber'35. Suitable packing 36 is placed within the stuffing-box and compressed about said tube by the gland 37, which is adjustably secured to said stuffing-box by bolts and nuts 38. Threadably arranged upon the outer end of said steam-inlet chamber is the exhaust-chamber 39, having an exhaustopening in its wall and a hollow stuffing-box extension 39' at its outer end, to which is adjustably attached a cap 40. An exhaust-tube 41, having an exterior diameter less than the interior diameters of said shaft 29 and tube 34 to permit a steam-space therebetween, extends through said shaft and tube, the outer end of which is provided with a threaded shoulder, by which the same is secured to a collar 42 by a nut 43, said collar being threadably secured within the outer end of the steam-'inlet chamber. The opposite end of this exhaust-tube is provided with a convex shoulder engaging in a concaved receptacle in the valve 44 and cap 45, which are arranged within the chamber 31, said tube being held in operative connection with the valve against turning by a pin 46, projecting from the latter into a slot 47 at the tube end. This ball-and-socket form of connection between the valve and tube insures perfect seating of the valvey irrespective of the alinement of the tube. The valve referred to is provided with an exhaust port 48, communicating With the tube thereof, and a cavity 49, communicating with the interior of the hollow shaft 29 by a port 50 in the rear wall thereof. The face of this valve has formed therein a plurality of radiating slots or ports 51, which communicate with said cavity 49, through Which slots the steam enters the cylinder-ports. Agovernor-valve 52 in the form of a sector is movably tted within the cavity of said valve proper, which is adapted to oscillate therein and control the passage of steam through said ports 51. This valve-sector is secured fast to the head of rod 52, which extends through the stuffing-box 39 and shaft 4l, by a pin 54, extending therefrom into an opening in the central web thereof. To prevent possible leakage at the point where the said sector is connected to the rod, a small orifice 54 is formed within the valve proper to permit steam to act upon the head of the rod and press the same against the shoulder of the orifice.

A suitable governor 57 is employed in connection with the engine to operate the sectorvalve, the governor in this case consisting of a standard 80, through which extends a vertical shaft 81, having a miter-,wheel 82 arranged upon its lower end and a cross-piece 82 at its upper end, to which cross-piece are pivotally connected a pair of weighted arms 83, said arms being provided at their lower ends with cross-pieces 84, which are connected together by spiral springs 85. Loosely fitted over said vertical shaft is a sleeve 86, and upon this sleeve is loosely mounted a circular weight 87, which weight is connected to said arms by the links 88. Upon the lower end of said sleeve 86 are formed lugs 88', to which is connected a rod 89, which rod is connected at its opposite end to a crank 90 upon the rock-shaft 56. The opposite end of this rock-shaft is provided with another crank 5 8, which is connected to a crank 55 upon the valve-rod 53 by a rod 59. Toimpart the necessary motion to the governor, a shaft 91 is arranged therebelow, which carries a miterwheel 92 to mesh with that of the governorshaft, and upon the opposite end of this shaft is secured a wheel 93, which is coupled to the rotatable shaft or valve-chamber 31 by a belt 94. In setting said valve-sector relative to the governor it is necessary that the same assume its extreme normal position, as shown at Figs. VII and VIII.

A device for balancing the valve proper is employed in connection with the engine, consisting of a small steam-chamber 60, formed upon the housing 6l, which projects from the side of the bed-plate, the forward end of which chamber is provided with a removable head 62 and cap 63 and the rear end thereof with packing 64 and gland 65, said chamber being connected with the steam-inlet chamber by a pipe 66. Upon the rear side of said steam-inlet chamber is formed a pair of lugs 67, which engage with the forked end of the upright lever 68, said lever being provided with an opening at its lower end to engage over the stein of a piston 69 in said chamber 60. A fulcrum-block 70 is adjustably attached to an upright rod 71, extending from the housing 61, the forward end of which is tapered to a knife -edge and engages said lever 68. Each head of the cylinder is provided with an automatic cock 72, each cock consisting of an ordinary steam-cock casing and valve, to the valve-stem of which is attached a lever 73, carrying an adjustable weight 74. A spiral spring is wound about the neck of the valve-casing with one end engaging about said body and the other end about said lever in such manner that the tension of the spring will hold the Valve in its normal or open position when the cylinder IOO IIO

is at rest and when in motion automatically closed by the centrifugal force of the weight upon the lever.

Having thus described the details of construction, I will now proceed and plainly set forth the operation and effect. Assuming that a steam-supply pipe is connected to the chamber 35 and the engine is in a position slightly over the center, similar to that shown at Fig. IV, with the exhaust-ports open at the lower end and the receiving-ports likewise open at the upper end, when these conditions are established the steam uponbeing turned on enters the chamber 35, passing through the tube 34, hollow shaft 29, and valve-ports 50 and 5l, through port 25 to the upper end of the cylinder, exerting its force upon the piston 27, and as the rod'of said piston is secured direct to the frame 17 and said frame secured to the inner periphery of the fly-Wheel 3 by the parallel bars let it is evident that the movement of the piston through the medium of these members will exert a leverage upon said wheel and cause the same to begin rotating, and as the cylinder is directly attached to the shaft 29, but upon a different center than said wheel and indirectly to said wheel, it is evident that the cylinder and wheelwill rotate together, the cylinder sliding in said frame as it rotates to compensate for the dierential motion which would otherwise occur if the piston-rod was connected pivot-ally or ieXibly to the wheel-rim. New as the valve proper, 44, remains at all times stationary this semirotation of the cylinder about said valve will automatically cut off the steam-supply through the ports 51, permitting the. steam to expand in the cylinder and force the piston to the opposite end of said cylinder, completing the half revolution, and at the completion of said stroke the steam at that end of the cylinder will be exhausted by way of the cylinder-port 25, valve-port e8, hollow shaft 41, and chamber 39 to the atmosphere. inder now being again in position to receive steam, but at the opposite end, receives and exhausts, as described, forcing the piston outward and completing the revolution of the cylinder and fly-wheel, each semirevolution being completed in rapid succession, as described, causing a continuous rotation of the fly-wheel. As the sector-valve 52 is capable of being oscillated within the cavity of the valve proper and the rod thereof is connected up with the governor rock-shaft, it is obvious that the rotation of the governorarms S3 will become spread farther apart in a direction toward a horizontal plane, lifting the weight 87, which in its ascent carries therewith the sleeve 86, and as this sleeve is also connected to said rock-shaft the said shaft will be partially rotated upon its axis and transmit a relative movement to said' valvesector, causing said sector to oscillate to a position more or less covering the radiatingports 51, steam through said-ports to .the cylinder in proportion to the load or speed of the engine.

In this form of valve mechanism as early a compression or exhaust as desired may be atthereby regulating the admission of tained by establishing the proper area 0r proportion of the exhaust-port 48. As the steam enters the chamber 35 a small portion thereof passes down through the pipe 66 into the chamber 60, forcing the piston 69 outward against the fulcrumed lever 68, and as this leveris attached to or bears upon the end of the chamber 35, to which the valve proper is attached, by the tube 41, an outward pressure equal to that of the steam upon said valve is placed thereupon (by adjusting the fulcrumblock 70) in opposition to said steam-pressure, thereby balancing the same, and consequently reducing the friction, making a perfectly-balanced valve. As the cylinder rotates itis evident that'the centrifugal force acting upon the weights 74 of the cock-levers will overbalance the force of the springs 75 and canse said levers to assume positions at right angles from their normal or open-cock positions, thereby closing said cocks automatically and maintaining closure until the engine ceases to operate, when the springs will again over-balance the force of the weights and automatically open said cocks. As the rods 14 are equidistant between centers and pivotally connected in parallel relation to the wheel-rim and frame 17 at their ends and at equidistant points thereat a perfect parallelogram is formed, and as the frame therein is slidably fitted to the cylinder it is evident that-as the wheel is rotated by the action of the reciprocating piston through the medium of said parallelogram, said parallelograrn will rotate therewith and at thesame time perform an oscillating movement occasioned by the gradual decrease and increase of the distance between the liked centers, at which the rods are attached to the wheel-rim, rotating with the Wheel about the fixed centerof the cylinder, causing the frame to slide upon said cylinder with the accompanying movement ofthe piston, which oscillating movement will be in proportion to the dierence between 'the fixed centers of the wheel and cylinder or piston stroke. The parallelogram remains truly such no matter what the angle of deflection may be in performing its oscillating or rotary motion, and

as the members 14 thereof are nothing more IOO IIC

l ism to prevent a differential motion the pisspeed is desired and will occur even where a plurality of pistons are employed.

Having described an operative capable of producing the desired results, it is plain that the detail parts thereof may be changed or modified without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully shown and described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire t0 secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a steam-engine, a rotatable cylinder provided with a reciprocating piston, a rotatable Wheel the axis of which is out of line with but parallel with that of said cylinder, and members yieldingly connecting said piston-rod with said wheel whereby a relatively invariable rotary motion is imparted by said piston to said wheel and cylinder.

2. In a steam-engine, a rotatable cylinder provided with a reciprocating piston adapted to receive and exhaust steam at either end, a rotatable wheel the axis of which is out of line with but parallel with that of said cylinder, and members yieldingly connecting said piston-rod with said wheel whereby a relatively invariable rotary motion is imparted by said piston to said wheel and cylinder.

3. In a steam-engine, a rotatable cylinder provided with a reciprocating piston adapted to receive and exhaust steam at either end, a rotatable Wheel the axis of whichA is out of line with but parallel with that of said cylinder, and members yieldingly connecting said piston-rod and the cylinder thereof to said wheel whereby a relatively invariable rotary motion is imparted by said piston to said wheel and cylinder.

4. In a steam-engine, a rotatable cylinder provided with a reciprocating piston, a rotatable wheel the axis of which is out of line with but parallel with that of said cylinder, a member connected to and movable with said piston engaging said cylinder, and parallel members yieldingly connecting said piston member with said wheel whereby a relatively invariable rotary motion is imparted to said wheel and cylinder by said piston through the medium of said members.

5. In a steam-engine, a rotatable cylinder provided with a reciprocating piston and adapted to receive and exhaust steam at either end, a rotatable wheel the axis of which is out of line with but parallel with that of said cylinder, a member connected to and movable with said piston engaging said cylinder, and parallel members yieldingly connecting said piston member with said wheel whereby a relatively invariable rotary motion is imparted to said wheel and cylinder through the medium of said members.

6. In a steam-engine, a valve mechanism provided with a movable governor-controlled cut-off member, a cylinder rotatable thereabout adapted to receive and exhaust steam therethrough and provided with a reciprocating piston, a rotatable wheel the axis of which is out of line with but parallel with that of said cylinder, a member connected to and movable with said piston engaging said cylinder, and parallel members vyieldingly connecting said piston member with said wheel whereby a relatively invariable rotary motion is imparted to said wheel and cylinder through the medium of said members.

7. In a steam-engine, a valve mechanism provided with a movable governor-controlled cut-off member, a cylinder rotatable thereabout adapted to receive and exhaust steam at either end therethrough and provided with a reciprocating piston, a rotatable wheel the axis of which is out of line with but parallel with that of said cylinder, a member connected to and movable with said piston engaging said cylinder, and parallel members yieldingly connecting said piston member with said wheel whereby a relatively invariable rotary movement is imparted by said piston to said wheel and cylinder through the medium of said members.

8. In a steam-engine, a valve mechanism provided with a movable governor-controlled cut-off member, a cylinder rotatable thereabout adapted to receive and exhaust steam therethrough and provided with a reciprocating piston, a rotatable wheel the axis of which is out of line with but parallel with that of said cylinder, a member connected to and movable with said piston engaging said cylinder, and parallel members yieldingly connecting said piston with said wheel whereby a relatively invariable rotary motion is imparted by said piston to said wheel and cylinder.

9. In a steam-engine, a valve mechanism provided with a movable governor-controlled cut-off member, a cylinder rotatable thereabout adapted to receive and exhaust steam therethrough and provided with a reciprocating piston, a rotatable wheel the axis of which is out of line with but parallel with that of said cylinder, a member connected to and movable with said piston engaging said cylinder, parallel members connecting said piston member with said wheel whereby a relatively invariable rotary motion is imparted by said piston to said wheel and cylinder through the medium of said members, and a steam-actuated fulcrumed lever connected with said valve adapted to be adjusted to and place a balancing pressure thereupon in opposition t0 the ingoing steam.

10. In a steam-engine, a valve mechanism IOO IIO

provided with a movable governor-controlled cut-oli member, a cylinder rotatable thereabout adapted to receive and exhaust steamV at either end therethrough and provided with a reciprocating piston, a rotatable wheel the axis of which is out of line with butparallel with that of said cylinder, a member connected to and movable With said piston engaging the cylinder, parallel members connecting said piston member With said Wheelwhereby a relatively invariable rotary motion is imparted by said piston to said wheel and cylinder through the medium of said members,

and a steam-actuated fulcrumed lever con-l nected with said valve adapted to be adjusted to and place a balancing pressure thereupon in opposition to the ingoing steam.4

ll. In a steam-engine, a valve mechanism provided With a movable governor-controlled cut-oft member, a cylinder rotatable thereabout adapted to receive and exhaust steam therethrough and provided with a reciprocating piston, a rotatable Wheel the axis of which is out of line with but parallel with that of said cylinder, parallel members connecting said piston with said wheel whereby a relatively invariable rotary motion is imparted by said piston to said Wheel and cylinder through'the medium of said members, and a steam-actuated fulcrumed lever connected with said valve adapted to be adjusted to and place a balancing pressure thereupon in opposition to the ingoing steam.

l2. In a steam-engine, a rotatable cylinder Y provided With a reciprocating piston, a rotatable wheel the axis of which is out of line with but parallel with that of said cylinder, means connecting said piston with said Wheel whereby a relatively invariable rotary motion is imparted by said piston to said wheel and cylinder, and cylinder-cocks arranged upon and communicating with said cylinder adapted to automatically close When the cylinder is in motion and open when at rest.

13. In a steam-engine, a rotatable cylinder provided with a reciprocating piston adapted to receive and exhaust steam at either end, a rotatable Wheel the axis of which is out of line with but parallel with that of said cylinder, means connecting said piston With said Wheel whereby a relatively invariable rotary motion is imparted by said piston to said wheel and cylinder, and cylinder-cocks arranged upon and communicating with said cylinder adapted to automatically close when the cylinder is in motion and open when at rest.

14. In a steam-engine, a rotatable cylinder provided with a reciprocating piston, a rotatable Wheel the axis of Which is out of line with but parallel with that of said cylinder, amember connected to and movable with said piston engaging said cylinder, parallel members connecting said piston member With said Wheel whereby a relatively invariable rotary motion is imparted to said Wheel and cylinder by said piston through the medium of said members, and cylinder-cocks arranged upon vand communicating with said cylinder adapted to `automatically close When the cylinder is in motion and open when at rest.

15. In a steam-engine, a rotatable cylinder provided with a reciprocating piston and adapted to receive and exhaust Vsteam at either end, a rotatable Wheel the axis of Vwhich is out of line with but parallel With that of said cylinder, parallel members connecting said piston with said cylinder whereby a relatively invariable rotary motion isirnparted by said piston to said Wheel and cylinder, and cylinder-cocks arranged upon and communicating with said cylinder adapted toautomatically close when the cylinder is in motion and open when at rest.

16. In a steam-engine, a valve mechanism provided with a movable governor-controlled cut-0E member, a cylinder rotatable thereabout adapted to receive and exhaust steam therethrough and provided with a reciprocating piston, a rotatable Wheel the axis of which is out of line With but parallel with that of said cylinder, a member connected to and movablevvvith said piston engaging said cylinder, parallel members connecting said piston member With said Wheel whereby a relatively invariable rotary motion is imparted by said piston to said wheel and cylinder through the medium of said members, and cylinder-cocks arranged upon and communicating with said cylinder adapted to automatically close when the cylinder is in motion and open When at rest.

17. In a steam-engine, a valve mechanism provided With a movable governor-controlled cut-off member, a cylinder rotatable thereabout adapted to receive and exhaust steam therethrough at either end and provided with a reciprocating piston, a rotatable Wheel the axis of which is out of line with but parallel with that of said cylinder, a member connected to and movable with said piston engaging said cylinder, parallel members connectingsaid piston member with said wheel whereby a relatively in va riable rotary motion I is imparted by said piston to said Wheel and cylinder through the medium of said members, a steam-actuated fulcrumed lever connected with said valve adapted to be adjusted to and place a balancing pressure thereupon in oppositicn to the ingcing steam, and cylinder-cocks arranged upon and communicating with said cylinder adapted to automaticopen When at rest. Y

18. In a steam-engine, a valvemechanism provided with a movable governor-controlled cut-oil member, a cylinder rotatable thereabout adapted to receive and exhaust steam therethrough at either endand provided with a reciprocating piston, a rotatable Wheel the axis of which is out of line with but parallel with that of saidcylindenparallel members IOO vally close when the cylinder is in motion and conneetingsaid piston with said Wheel Wherematieally close when the cylinder is rotated by a relatively invariable rotary motion is and open When at rest.

imparted by said piston to said Wheel and In testimony whereof I have hereunto cylinder through the medium of said memsigned my name in the presence of two sub- 5 bers, a steam-actuated fulcrumed lever conseribing Witnesses.

nected with said valve adapted to be adjusty ed to and place a balancing pressure there- FREDERICIX W REEVES' upon in opposition to the ingoing steam, and In presence ofcylinder-coeks arranged upon and eolnmuni- H. E. MIX,

ro eating With said cylinder adapted to auto- S. R. COOK. 

